Beethoven’s fifth symphony, with added sports commentary
Daily Comfort ZoneA masterpiece of wit and timing by Peter Schickele, also known as PDQ Bach, who passed away this week.
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Most probably do not know that this “sports cast” was a parody of some recordings made in the 1960s in which a narrator (the conductor if I remember right) outlined the themes and structures of some famous symphonic works while a recording of them played in the background. The were both educational and unintentionally funny. Does anyone remember the name of the person who made those recordings?
This whole special, filmed at Rice University, is a comedic masterpiece. If you’re ever in need of a true laugh, watch the “Seasonings” segment. And forever props to the musicians and singers for not even cracking a smile throughout.
I know the recording from years, ago but I like the modern updates.
I am of a certain age so that when PDQ first came on the scene I was a high school and college student, thus probably part of the group to whom this shtick was primarily directed. I have never found him funny or entertaining, merely sophomoric and annoying. This excerpt is no exception. Perhaps I think that the music he tries to parody is too precious to me. This proud New Yorker, who never lost his noticeable regional accent, even finds his flat midwestern English, probably a product of North Dakota, irritating.
I am not a professional musician, and I hope I modestly realize the limits of my knowledge and appreciation. I think in the heyday of PDQ Bach a critic wrote that the more knowledge you have the less entertaining he is. I think she or he was correct.
One thing I can tell you is that at least when Schickele did his New York concerts with a freelance group, musicians killed for chance to play. They got him.
I am the electric bass player in that video. That got me into iMDB.
A stone-cold classic! R.I.P., Professor Schickele.
Hilarious! High Wood plays oboe and Bobby Corno plays horn but makes an error so his first horn average drops. PS also composed serious chamber music but the PDQ Bach stuff is most memorable. I once performed his Brandenburg Concerto where he substituted a tuba for the piccolo trumpet. I played the tuba part with members of The Seattle Symphony. Fun!
Absolute genius. I’m glad I had nothing in my mouth when the electric bass player started playing Smoke on the Water.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! That was Peter S.’s idea! He didn’t specify Smoke on the Water but I figured it would be the most immediately recognizable garage-band lick. Some things you don’t learn in music school.
Classic. Timeless.
Readers of this blog lost their mind when they found that a woman composer messed around with Beethoven. Presumably we’ll see similar outrage here.
https://slippedisc.com/2024/01/boos-for-beethovens-9th-in-vienna/
I have loved PDQ Bach for decades and this one is a special favorite.
I was at a performance of PDQ Bach where Peter Schickele climbed down a rope from the balcony to reach the stage.
He will be missed, but the recordings will live forever.
I think the picture of Porcelina Speck in his book might be my favorite portrait of all time. If you know, you know.
Peter S. wanted to swing in from the balcony but we couldn’t figure out a safe way to do it. So he climbed down a rope from the gallery behind the stage. He slipped and fell the last four feet and scared the crap out of us. Also, in the violin section you can see future NY Phil concertmaster Frank Huang.